UPDATED: Isabella man arrested after incident with traveling salesmen

A 61-year-old Isabella County man was charged Friday with three felonies and two misdemeanors after allegedly firing shots at door-to-door salesmen early Thursday night.

Magistrate Sandra Straus arraigned Robert Dale Lee of Fremont Township on charges of carrying a weapon with unlawful intent, a five-year felony; felonious assault, a four-year felony; a felony firearm violation, a two-year felony; possession of a firearm while under the influence, a 93-day misdemeanor; and reckless use of a firearm, a 90-day misdemeanor.

Straus set Lee’s bond at $10,000, according to court records.

Lee, who lives in the 6000 block of South Vandecar Road, is accused of firing shots at three Kirby vacuum salesmen as they were leaving his property shortly after 6 p.m. Thursday.

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Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski said the three men approached the home, knocked on the door and saw a man inside, who police identified as the suspect prior to Lee’s arraignment.

Carrying a bag of laundry detergent, two of the salesmen told Lee that “we are giving this to homeowners,” according to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint.

After Lee allegedly held up a finger in what was taken by the salesmen as a gesture for them to wait, he began to walk backwards with his hand behind his back, according to court records.

Becoming suspicious of what the man was doing, the salesmen left, joining a third Kirby representative in their van, and headed down the driveway, Mioduszewski said.

As they were driving away, Lee allegedly came out of an unattached garage carrying a long gun, the sheriff said.

At the time the vacuum salesmen saw Lee allegedly firing the gun, they reportedly heard a shot, Mioduszewski said.

One of the salesmen yelled “sir, you don’t need to do that, we are leaving,” before hearing a second shot, according to court records.

One of the salesmen said he heard pellets - either birdshot or buckshot - “whiz” by the open driver’s side window, the sheriff said.

Alcohol is believed to have been a factor, and the incident remains under investigation.

Mioduszewski said nobody was injured, and none of the pellets hit the van.

Police found and confiscated a 20-gauge shotgun at the scene, the sheriff said.